Secret Pal 10

Best Pal Contest Winners!

2007-07-08T00:33:00.000-07:00

The winners for Best Pal are.... (selected completely randomly via a number generator)

drumroll please.....

Armed with Pointy Sticks for spoiling Yarn about Yarn

Corner Scribe for spoiling Ok! What Next?

Halfway Down the Stairs for spoiling Mega(K)nits

Always Knitting for spoiling Death by Yarn

Yes, I Knit for spoiling For the Love of Crafts

Knotty Knitter Kris Knits! for spoiling The Simple Pleasures of Life

The hostess who will be sending your prize will be contacting you shortly to let you know the details. If you don't hear from any of them, please contact sp10hostess@hotmail.com for more info.

2007-07-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that you have until the end of tomorrow, Saturday, July 7th, to submit your nominations for best pal.

Nominees will be selected randomly to win prizes. There are 6 prizes to be won!

Good luck to all the nominees!

You can submit your nominations to: sp10hostess@hotmail.com

Secret Pal 11 sign up's are underway!

2007-07-01T19:35:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I hope that everyone enjoyed Secret Pal 10! Sign up's have started for Secret Pal 11. Details will be on the Secret Pal 11 Blog shortly.

Head on over to the sign up page if you would like to play again!

Best Pal Contest

2007-06-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Do you think your pal was the best pal ever???

I'm taking your nominations for Best Pal contest!

If you think your pal was the best, whether they've revealed themselves or not, please email me their:

a) secret email account if they havent revealed themselves yet

or

b) their name & blog if they have reveled themselves to you.

There are some great prizes, so get nominating!

Email here the nominations!

DEADLINE: One week after SP10 Ends, to make sure that all packages get to you, so you have an extra week! That makes it for July 7th, 2007.

We shall let you know shortly what the prizes shall be!

Raffle for Breast Cancer (Knitting Related Prizes!)

2007-05-04T22:52:00.000-07:00

I got an email in my hostess email account that I thought I'd share with you.

There is a raffle for Breast Cancer with some knitting related prizes. Hostess Shelby has some stitch markers in the raffle as a prize!

Here is the link:

http://www.wendyswoolies.com/raffle

It's taking place overseas - but that shouldn't stop you from supporting the cause!

UPS VS. USPS

2007-04-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

This only applies if you are sending to a CANADIAN pal from the USA....

If you are - please read this!

If you are someone in the USA is planning to ship to your Canadian pal, they should ship USPS and not UPS. UPS ALWAYS charges a brokerage fee and duty taxes for any parcel valued at more than 20$ Canadian. I had this problem last year. The girl in my case put 20$ US on
the package as a value, which was 22.46$ Canadian at the time of conversion (over
the 20$ Canadian mark!) and I got charged 23.04$ to receive my package! REDICULOUS. It was from my one skein secret pal. All she sent me was 1 skein of yarn, which she valued at 20$US, and I had to pay more in brokerage fees and duty import taxes, than what the package was worth!

If you do want to use UPS - make sure to put a 15$ US value on the box, so that it doesnt hit the 20$ mark Canadian. It sucks to have to PAY to receive a gift from your pal. Or, put no value at all - and just mark that it's a gift. Or your other option, just mail it USPS, once it crosses the border, it'll be Canada Post - and for gifts, there are generally no problems of it being stopped at the border.

If you have ANY questions about this - feel free to contact me at sp10hostess@hotmail.com - I can answer any questions about this - I'm a pro at shipping (LOL) if you want to call me that!

Robyn

New Flickr Group for SP10 Packages!

2007-04-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

Liz came up with a great idea and set up a new Flickr group for SP10 gifts! As Liz says, this can be a great way to get ideas for future gifts to send out! Thanks, Liz!

Please Note

2007-03-29T16:12:00.000-07:00

Please note that the contest below is for Robin's group - NOT Robyn's group. There are two of us - Robyn and Robin. Robyn with a Y is hosting a contest about your fave knitting acessory ended March 31st, 2007 - not about your fave yarn - which Robin the other hostess is hosting.

Thanks for your understanding - cuz some of my group members have been posting their fave/hate yarn - and I didn't understand where they got this information from!

Just wanted to clear up this confusion!!!

Robyn

First SP10 Contest for Robin's Group

2007-03-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone -
For those of you in my group, here is our first contest!

Please post (on your blog) about your favorite yarn and your least favorite yarn (if you have one!) What have you made with it? Tell us about your experiences!

In order to be eligible for the prize drawing, please post by Sunday night (4/1). I will then randomly select one of you for the prize - which is... a $20 Elann.com gift certificate!!!!

I've only heard from a few of you regarding issues contacting your pals - please let me know at rmartin_cpa at hotmail dot com if you haven't been in contact with both your spoiler and your spoilee. Thanks and have a great weekend!

Robin :)

Participant's Page - Last Call!?

2007-03-26T16:56:00.000-07:00

Last call for anyone who doesn't see their name on the participants list. It's been up for over a week now, and I'm wondering if there is anyone else who doesn't seem to be on there.

Contact me asap if so!

Email me here.

Thanks, Robyn

Vendors and discounts

2007-03-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

We are currently compiling a list of this rounds' vendors.
Twice a week we will highlight a vendor and their products on the perks blog
http://www.secretpalperks.blogspot.com/
stay tuned!

Participant's Page is DONE!

2007-03-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

The Participant's page is done! Phew!

Please go check to make sure that your blog name is up there and the link works.

Any corrections, please email me here.

Thanks!

Button! Button! Who's got a button?

2007-03-15T17:36:00.000-07:00

Wanna make a button? Or 2? Or 3?

Please send no more than 3 buttons per person and please, please, please make them unique. In other words, 3 buttons of the same design in 3 different colors won't count. And please don't take a button from a previous round that doesn't belong to you and update the number unless you have permission from the original designer to do so.

Send them to us here no later than March 19th. We'll draw a random winner(s) no later than the end of that week.

What are you waiting??? Go design some buttons! :-)

Calling All Vendors

2007-03-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

Heatherly has graciously offered to interview vendors for the vendors page again this round. If you're interested in offering our participants a discount please drop Heatherly a note here or here. She'll gather all your information and post it to a special page we'll setup to make shopping super easy for everyone.

Participant's Page

2007-03-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I've been hard at work on the participant's list page.

It'll be uploaded in full tomorrow, March 16th, 2007.

Over the weekend, please check to make sure your name is on there, and your link is correct. I've been putting Blog Names, not your real names.
For example, I'm Knit & Purl Mama, not Robyn on that page.

If by Sunday latest you do not see your name up there, please toss me an email here.
Do NOT email me there beforehand, because the list is not finished as of yet.

Thanks, Robyn
(Who is working hard on the SP10 Participant's page!)

Matches for My Group Were Sent Out Monday

2007-03-15T06:13:00.000-07:00

Just FYI, I sent out all of the matches for my group on Monday afternoon. If you are in my group and received my welcome email but not your match, please check your junk mail folder first. Please email me at rmartin_cpa at hotmail dot com if that doesn't turn up your match. I have heard from many of you saying you received my email but there are a few of you I haven't heard from, and I got an email this morning asking about a missing match. Thanks!!

Cecily's group

2007-03-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, just a quick post to say that if you're in my group, I just sent out my last match. I requested that you email me back as soon as you receive it, just so that I can make sure you've gotten it. Also, PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM boxes. A few of you that have Yahoo emails have been having problems getting emails from my Gmail account.

Thanks, y'all! :)

Robyn's Group

2007-03-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I've sent out my matches to your anonymous email account! Go on, check! I dare you! And then email me to confirm that you've received your match. If it's not there, please email me and let me know, I've saved every outgoing email, I can re-send it.

I'll be unavailable during the day on Wednesday, March 14th, so I'll respond to any emails on Thursday, March 15th.

Thanks!
Have a great day,
Robyn

Getting there!!

2007-03-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

We're in the process of getting our matches done! Sign-ups have closed, and we have 600+ participants, so please be paitent. We will get your match to you as soon as possible. If you haven't gotten a "welcome" e-mail from your hostess (any of the ladies linked on the sidebar), please feel free to comment here (leaving your name and blog address so we can find you in our lists) or e-mail us at sp10hostesses AT yahoo DOT com.

We're just as excited as you are for SP10 to get underway! Have a great week!

The Best of SP9

2007-02-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

I've just posted the 4 random winners of the Best Pal contest from SP9 over on the blog. Go have a look and stop by to congratulate the winners. :-)

The Questionnaire

2007-02-03T09:37:00.000-08:00

Here are is the questionnaire for SP10. Please be sure to post it in a spot on your blog where your pal can easily find it. Since your pal will use this to help create your packages you'll want to have it posted to your blog no later than the last day of February.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

5. What's your favorite scent?

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

13. What are you knitting right now?

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

18. What is your favorite holiday?

19. Is there anything that you collect?

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

23. When is your birthday?

Sign Ups Are Open!

2007-02-01T06:49:00.000-08:00

We are now accepting registrations for Secret Pal 10!! Once again, we are using a sign-up form! Please do the following if you'd like to sign up:

TO SIGN UP:

1) Go to the following website: Sign-up
2) Create an account, it's secure, so don't worry!! If you participated in SP9, just log-in using your previous account name and password.
3) Follow the links to the Sign-Up form!!

You will hear back from the hostesses within 7 days with your confirmation. If you need to mention anything specific that is not on the form, there is an additional comment box. Please feel free to mention it there.

If you have any further questions, please e-mail us!
Thanks!!

Rules of the Road

2007-02-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

The Rules:
Please take time to read through the rules as there have been some minor changes. :-)

1. Deadline to sign up: February 28, 2007
2. Matches will be distributed: On or before March 15, 2007
3. Secret Pal dates: March 15, 2007 though June 30, 2007

Who This Is For:
Knitters and Crocheters only please.

International Participation:
This SP event is based in the United States. The term "International" will refer to all participants outside the United States.

You are welcome to join no matter where you live!

Due to the high number of International participants, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate all requests for same Country/Continent pals.

If you are able to communicate in any language other than English please let us know. We normally have several participants who are more comfortable corresponding in other languages.

Blog:
Having a blog (or website) is mandatory for participating in this program. If you're new to blogging, please note that you must have at least 10 posts in order to join SP. Your blog must be public (if not, you MUST allow anonymous access to your pal and your hostess) and post at least 4 times a month throughout the 3 months (April, May, and June) of the exchange. This online journal is a great place for the SP who is spoiling you to find out who you are and what you like or dislike (do you like sweets? are you allergic to specific yarns?). It also provides a place for you to publicly thank your SP when the packages/cards start rolling in. Your blog certainly does not have to be a knitting blog, but you must have one fiber/hobby related post each month.

Anonymous Email Address:
You must set up an anonymous email address such as the free ones from Hotmail or Yahoo so you can contact your SP buddy without giving away your identity. Make sure to check the account regularly. You might want to consider having that accounts mail forwarded to your regular email account so you don't miss anything. If you do this, don't forget to reply from your anonymous account when corresponding with your pal!

Minimum Contribution:
$60 in US dollars over the course of the three months of the exchange. This does not include the value of your time if you make something or any postage costs. Establishing the amount should make it clear to all what a fair commitment should be, and no one should expect more, or less. $60 over three months is just $20 a month. If you feel this amount is too much or not enough, this exchange is not for you.

Your Pal:
Once you have been assigned a secret pal, please send them a quick note to say hello (from your anonymous email address) so they know they've been paired. Keep in mind that the fun of a Secret Pal event is to meet and get to know a random person who shares a common interest with you (knitting and/or crochet). There is a method to the madness of matching up all participants and you only get one match. Complaints about your secret pal of the "I'd rather not have a pal who..." variety are a quick way to have yourself removed from the event. If you feel you have a valid reason to request a rematch, feel free to email your hostess. Please remember though that you cannot pick and choose your secret pal and we will not hesitate to remove anyone who appears to be missing the point of a Secret Pal exchange.

What To Give:
Knitting and crochet related items are great but not the only thing you are limited to sending. Lots of participants also like to send their pal soaps, lotions, candy, cards, candles, and other special treats. Just remember that not everyone likes to crochet and that not everybody spins. It's a good idea to get to know your pal by reading the responses to their questionnaire and their blog entries. If you're still stumped, ask your pal what specific things they like. You can always ask your hostess for help too. We've seen lots of neat packages and will be more than happy to make suggestions.

***If you will be gifting items from your stash they MUST be in brand new condition.***

Number or Frequency of Gifts:
The number of gifts you send to your pal is entirely up to you. You can send one package a month to spread out the gifts, or one big package at the end. However, sending something snail mail to your pal once a month is a really great way to keep the exchange fun and exciting. Post cards, letters and cards are great, inexpensive ways to stay in touch with your pal if you choose to send only one package of gifts at the end of the exchange. If you do choose to just send one package, make sure to let you pal know your plans so they don't feel abandoned. Purchasing delivery confirmation for packages is a great idea. It's less than $1 at the post office or free when you use click and ship at the USPS website. If sending one package at the end of the exchange delivery confirmation is a requirement.

Contact:
You must make contact with your pals on the 1st and 15th of each month of the exchange (April, May, and June) to let them know you're still around with either an e-card, blog comment, or email. Of course if you'd like to contact your pal more often, you're more than welcome to do so. Remember to use your anonymous email when contacting your pal. If you're going to be away for more than 5 days you must let your pal and hostess know. It's an awkward situation when you think your pal may have dropped out of the exchange because you haven't heard from them. Remember to treat your pal as you would like to be treated.

Please remember that keeping in touch with the pal spoiling you is just as important as staying in touch with your spoilee. A quick email to let your pal know that a package has arrived will ease their mind as to whether or not it got lost in the mail, not to mention it's just plain old good manners. A public post to your blog to thank your pal is required within 72 hours of receiving your goodies. Part of the fun of Secret Pal is the joy of giving and that includes knowing your gift was received.

Stuff Happens:
If for some reason you are unable to follow through with your responsibility with the program please let us know immediately so that we can find a replacement for you. We realize and completely understand that things come up some times that are totally out of your control which might prevent you from participating but you need to let us know instead of avoiding your pals and your hostess. If you stop participating and don't respond to your hostess you will be replaced and your name will be added to the banned list for future SP programs.

If you have not had contact from your pal as outlined above, please let your hostess know immediately. Do not use your blog or the SP blog to blast your pal. We will try to find out what happened to your pal and if they have flaked we will get you a replacement.

Angels:
If someone does fail to participate as they agreed we will remove their name from the participation list and replace them with someone else. This means we will need a list of "angels" who are willing to jump in as replacements. As an angel, you might come in after the person you are replacing has already received a package. This means you might not receive the full $60 in goodies you would normally receive. We will also be accepting monetary donations through PayPal as well as tangible items to be used this round. If you're interested in donating either or both, please let us know when you sign up.

Final Note:
It's an important one! Please keep in mind that we are volunteering our time to run this event. We all have participated in past Secret Pal events and know how much fun they can be and want to help continue the tradition. This takes an incredible amount of time and effort. If you think something is amiss please let us know. We're perfectly open to constructive criticism and we'll gladly respond to any civil and respectful queries.

The hostesses also reserve the right to remove any participant at any time at our discretion.

*Anonymous comments on the Secret Pal blog will be immediately removed no matter what the content of the post is.

Official SP10 Dates

2007-01-31T18:54:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!! We will begin accepting sign-ups for Secret Pal 10 on February 1st! All details will be posted tomorrow. The time line is as follows:

Sign-ups: Feb 1 thru Feb 28th
Matches sent: By March 15th
Secret Pal 10: March 15th through June 30th

Welcome to SP10

2006-10-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the official SP10 blog!

I wanted to get this reserved for the next round. :-) Be sure to check back around the end of January for more information and sign up information for SP10!

Have a great holiday season and hope to see you soon!